Beyond

Chapter Five

When I wake up the next morning, the space beside me is empty. I blink my eyes open against the morning light. Rubbing the heels of my hands harshly against my eyes, I groan. Despite not having a single drink last night, I'm exhausted. I listen to the sounds of my apartment. It's achingly silent.

It's just as well, I guess.

I climb out of bed and throw on a t-shirt as I rummage through the pile of clothes on the floor for my cellphone. I pull it out from the pocket of my jeans and call DeAndré.

"What?" he groans after the third ring.

"Good morning, Shiloh," I reply sarcastically.

"I guess that guy didn't murder you last night."

"That would be an accurate deduction, but he ditched before I woke up this morning. To be honest, I'm not sure how I feel about it," I explain.

"Were you that bad last night?" he asks, laughing softly—a clear sign he's hungover.

"I thought it was okay."

"Okay? Just okay?"

"It's been a year," I remind him. "Anything would have been at least okay."

"At least you were able to make sure all of the parts were in proper working order."

"Leave it to you to look on the bright side of my one-night stand running out on me in the middle of the night," I say. "I was really calling to check on you. What happened to you last night?"

"Unfortunately, I didn't have as successful of a night as you did," he replies, and I can practically hear him shrugging. "Crap, you'll never guess who showed up at the club after you left."

"Blue Eyes?"

"Ha! I knew you were in love with him," he yells into the phone. "But no, Chris Evans. I literally died, Shi."

I shake my head, rolling my eyes. "Did you get to talk to him?"

"Better," he replies. "I got a picture with him."

My phone vibrates in my hand and I look down at the screen to see a picture of DeAndré and Chris Evans. André is beaming and I don't think I've ever seen him flash a smile as big even for me.

"Jeez, DeAndré, your cheeks must be sore from smiling that hard."

"Right?" he says. "I'm only answering to my new name, Mr. Evans. The wedding is in December. Promise you'll give me away."

"Oh, of course," I reply, laughing. "But you better not be a bridezilla."

"I make no promises."

"That reminds me; I remembered where I recognized Blue Eyes."

"You said he was an actor, right?"

"He's Sebastian Stan," he adds, like that fact is crazy obvious.

"Who?"

"He was in that Captain America movie with Chris Evans. I watched it once because I want to support my husband in all things, but the superhero thing isn't really for me."

"I think I remember it a bit."

"He was in that God-awful movie you used to watch allof the time. The one about the boy witches?"

I gasp, "The Covenant."

"That's the one," he says. "I still don't get why you loved that movie. It's weird."

"Well, I'm a weird girl. I have to go get ready for work. I'm glad you weren't murdered."

"Same, Shi. I'll talk to you later."